The Indiana Bankers Association’s annual Mega Conference this year encouraged Hoosier bankers to “change, engage and evolve” to a place where change is not just anticipated but embraced, engagement goes beyond transactions, and evolution becomes a strategic imperative.

Mega Conference is the Association’s signature event each year and the largest state bankers association meeting in the nation. Attendees for 2024 held steady at more than 1,250, our high since before the pandemic.

The conference teed off Monday, May 6, with an afternoon golf tournament through cloudy weather at the Country Club of Indianapolis on the west side of the city. That evening, the IBA hosted its annual Associate Member Appreciation Reception at The Westin Indianapolis Hotel in recognition of the many associate members who make Mega possible each year. Bankers and associate members enjoyed drinks and hors d’oeuvres while networking with one another. The evening concluded with the popular hospitality suite in the Governor’s Suite at the Westin.

On Tuesday, the conference schedule began in earnest with two morning and two afternoon rounds of educational breakout sessions, with six sessions to choose from in each slot. Tuesday morning also featured the return of the popular Fintech Showcase, sponsored by Profit Resources Inc. The showcase featured live pitches from emerging companies displaying their new technologies and opportunities to implement innovative solutions specifically designed for community banks and their customers.

Between the morning and afternoon sessions was a lunch keynote featuring Jay Baer, who discussed how to grow your business by focusing on three things your customers truly care about. The luncheon also featured the presentation of Diamond Associate Member awards and recognition of this year’s Five-Star Bank members.

After the day’s educational sessions wrapped up, bankers returned to the exhibit hall for the Mega Celebration, where they mingled with one another and associate members over food and drinks. That evening, the IBA Future Leadership Division gathered for a casual networking event at Yardhouse, just a short (rainy) walk from the convention center. All conference attendees were then invited back to the hospitality suite for another evening of fun, conversation, food and drinks.

Wednesday brought another four rounds of education sessions, again with six options each. At lunch, keynote speaker Joshua Evans urged attendees to cultivate the future of their employees’ experience.

The luncheon also featured the announcement of this year’s Commitment to Community Award winners. The program is designed to showcase exceptional community outreach by banks in the state. Congratulations to Alliance Bank, Francesville, for winning the category for banks with under $500 million in assets, and Horizon Bank, Michigan City, for winning the category for banks with $500 million or more in assets. Learn more about all of this year’s 2023 C2C Award Nominees.

Thank you to all who attended, and many thanks to our generous sponsors. We hope to see you at next year’s Mega Conference, scheduled for May 27-29, 2025, at the Indiana Convention Center and JW Marriott.